Intellectually bereft, obsessed with money and status ... they must
be from Sydney

COULD Sydney be the saddest of cities  intellectually
bereft, spiritually empty? Are its residents T.S. Eliot's
proverbial Hollow Men  heads together but whispering nothing
except deadening conversations about the latest movement of the
property market or fad diet?

Sydney's culture of the relentless pursuit of property, perfect
bodies and status has British psychologist and author Oliver James
worried. As part of research for his recently released book,
Affluenza, he travelled to seven countries to research the
effect of consumerism on happiness.

He found the obsessive pursuit of money and possessions was not
buying happiness. The affluenza virus was worst in Sydney, where he
found interviewing locals a depressing experience. It was, he said,
"the most vacuous of cities. The Dolly Parton of cities in
Australia."

Adelaide and Melbourne had a "different vibe" and did not strike
James as being as materialistic as Sydney. He had not been to
Sydney before and expected a "philistine nation" of "jolly,
uncomplicated fun-seekers". Instead, he found a city in thrall to
American values and a puritan work ethic that robbed life of joy
and meaning. Middle-class Sydney, he writes, is "packed with
career-obsessed workaholics". When they are not working the longest
hours in the developed world, they pursue perfect bodies through
joyless fitness regimes, or obsess about property prices. Always,
they are looking around anxiously, in the hope that others aren't
doing better than them.

"(It was) full of people who place a high value on money,
professional status and appearance," he said. The result?
Sydneysiders have a "greater risk of suffering from mental illness
 depression and anxiety".

"They (Sydneysiders) were like the tin man from the Wizard of
Oz. They had no idea of the point of their lives, other than to
get rich." James noted Bureau of Statistics figures highlighting a
rise in depression that coincided with a bullish property market,
which caused stress and anxiety  particularly among young
Australians.

While Britain has "its Posh and Becks",  obvious examples
of conspicuous consumption  cultural differences, including a
more entrenched class system, has put the brakes on the spread of
consumerism in Britain.

"The British, compared to the US or Aussies, are less easily
convinced that money will get you further. The British elite have
been around for an awfully long time and there is not the crassness
of the Australian rich."

While he despaired about Sydney, he found "affluenza" was not as
prevalent outside the Western world. "Shanghai has the virus pretty
badly but the vaccine is Confucius. Your best is good enough." But
in Sydney, a strong materialistic culture means that no one ever
quite feels like they can "measure up". His advice to Sydneysiders?
"Start reading." Starting with his book, perhaps?

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be from SydneyBrigid Delaney, LondonNational